New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced criticism Friday after urging residents to reduce air conditioner use to ease strain on the city’s electrical grid while simultaneously encouraging older New Yorkers to stay in air-conditioned spaces during an extreme heat wave.
The criticism followed two public messages from the mayor that some social media users said appeared to conflict.
In a post on X, Mamdani encouraged New Yorkers to look out for elderly relatives, friends and neighbors as temperatures climbed.
“If you have an older loved one, friend or neighbor, check in with them today,” Mamdani wrote. “Make sure they’re staying hydrated, spending time in the air-conditioned spaces whenever possible and know where to find the nearest cooling center.”
The message came shortly after the mayor asked city residents to conserve electricity by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees and reducing power consumption where possible.
“New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool,” Mamdani wrote in an earlier post.
He urged residents to “set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can.”
Mamdani said the city was also taking steps to reduce electricity demand by maintaining the same 78-degree standard in municipal buildings, dimming lights, asking private partners to conserve energy and powering down non-essential equipment.
“A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved,” he wrote.
The mayor’s guidance quickly drew criticism online, with opponents arguing that asking residents to conserve electricity while advising seniors to remain in air-conditioned spaces sent mixed messages.
Conservative commentator Gina Milan wrote on X, “You just told old people to keep their air at 78. Are you on drugs?”
Another social media user questioned how elderly residents were expected to stay cool under the mayor’s conservation request.
Reality television personality Spencer Pratt also mocked the guidance, posting, “Show us your thermostat, commie.”
The criticism comes as Mamdani continues implementing policies following his election as New York City’s mayor while promoting climate-related initiatives, per Fox News.
During his campaign, Mamdani argued that climate policy and quality of life are closely connected, advocating for expanded infrastructure to help residents during extreme weather events.
As the latest heat wave intensified, the city announced additional measures to help residents stay safe, including deploying Cooling Outreach On-Location (COOL) vans, extending public pool hours and opening eight additional cooling centers at facilities such as libraries.
According to the mayor’s office, temperatures during the current heat wave could reach as high as 112 degrees, prompting officials to describe it as a historic weather event.
Not everyone viewed the conservation guidance as unusual.
One social media user noted that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani issued similar requests during periods of high electricity demand in 1999, citing an archived city press release.
The conservation measures are intended to reduce stress on the electrical grid during periods of peak demand while helping prevent widespread outages.
